Walked away from a bad crash and now I can't stop shaking — is this normal?

You are absolutely allowed to feel exactly the way you're feeling. I walked away from a rollover two years ago with nothing worse than a sprained wrist and I was a complete disaster for months afterward. The body keeps score even when the injuries are "minor." What you're describing — the replaying, the 3am wake-ups, the physical shaking — that's a real trauma response, not drama. Please don't minimize it just because you didn't end up in the ICU.

Sending you so much love. Please don't measure your pain against what could have been worse. You went through something terrifying and your feelings are valid, full stop.

I know it doesn't feel like it right now, but the fact that you're aware of what you're feeling and reaching out — even anonymously — is genuinely a good sign. A lot of people just white-knuckle through this stuff and it comes out sideways later. You're already doing the harder, healthier thing by acknowledging it. That takes guts.

Two things: First, look up PTSD and acute stress disorder — I'm not diagnosing you, just saying what you're describing lines up closely enough that you should talk to someone who actually knows this stuff. Second, on the family front — I'd let that sit for a minute before you address it. You don't have the bandwidth for that conversation right now, and it'll still be there once you're on steadier ground.

Not dismissing what you're going through at all — but I'm curious, have you had a proper follow-up after the concussion? Asking because concussions can genuinely affect mood, anxiety, and sleep in ways people don't always connect back to the head injury. Sometimes what feels purely emotional is also partly physical. Worth checking with your doctor specifically about post-concussion syndrome if you haven't already.

Not legal advice, but just want to gently flag — emotional distress and psychological impacts after an accident are real and documented parts of a personal injury claim if another party was at fault, or sometimes even in single-vehicle situations depending on road conditions. The symptoms you're describing, if documented by a mental health professional, can matter legally down the line. Don't just suffer through this quietly; get it on the record with a doctor or therapist regardless of anything else.

The family thing hit me hard reading this. After my accident I had a couple of people I expected to show up who just... didn't, and weirdly that grief kind of fused with the trauma of the crash itself. It's a lot to untangle. Be patient with yourself on that part too.